Bored? Not for Long!!

Check out this AMAZING collection of activities and projects. There is SO many gorgeous ideas - it's just a matter of how many ink cartidges you have in reserve!! It's the activity page of Jan Brett's website... staggering!!! Check it out. (clic on the title of this post)

Pink Baby Blanket

Until all the paperwork and WAITING is over, I am hell bent on keeping busy! I found this stellar wool last weekend when I was trolling for sewing notions on Biashara street. It was all together too expensive, but when I saw the pink with GREEN flecks in it – who could resist?? I could only afford 2 balls at the time, so am making the smallest blanket that is still usable, with the intention of edging it with a crochet pattern of some sort to increase the size once I know how big it will finally be, etc.

I started with 100 stitches across, and then a border of 10 knit stitch on each end of the rows – to make a border of some sort.

I was leery to start purling, but turns out I am faster at that than I am at knitting! Who knew!!

Now all I have to do is get this house put back together, and then I will have a chance at getting it all done before life gets too busy again… fingers crossed for that one!!!

Indoor Safari Trail

Yes - I sure did!! I bought a "family" of each different animal - one family per step!! And of COURSE I have a little tiny baby of each animal - to add to our wall when we adopt our daughter!! Anyway - Meer wasn't too impressed with it at first, but now he points to each different type of animal as we go up the stairs - like a safari!! Naturally his favorite are still the fish! But it's good. He wants to hear the names of each animal, so it is a good learning experience... I figure, anyway! ha ha ha!! And YES - they are from www.ocramgirap.com ...except we shop at the store, not online! ;-D

Toddler Activites - Ice Cream Colors

This is the most hilarious thing ever! It is a free print out thingy from a site called www.first-school.ws/ . (By clicking on the title of this post you will be taken directly to the ice cream page!!) Anyway - I made a set and used that bluetac stuff to stick it onto the wall, but Meer LOVED ripping them off SO much, I glue-gunned them on the wall with velcro! (a big tall strip vertically, and then horizontal strips on the backs of each scoop and cone) It is just hilarious to watch him be "destructive" - he just loves it!! Hope you enjoy it too...

;-D

Tile Wall Transformation

Well - THIS is what we have done with our new patch of off white tiles in the kitchen! Not TOO bad, hey?? We have a cup of white board crayola markers hanging on the wall - incase our little Picasso gets inspired! Although so far he is only interested in tossing the markers on the floor, and then putting them back in the cup! ;-D

Toddler Activites - Wall Cups

So this is actually my own brilliant idea!! I saw our plastic cups in the cupboard, and was like - OH YA!!! So I taped them up on the wall, and Meer just LOVES emptying and filling them with various things - keeps him busy, that's for sure! In the same breath, I am also sure he will get sick of it soon, but if it amuses him for a week or so - I will be thrilled!

Flash Card Mania - The Dolch Words

I know I know - but when you have the laminator out - you might as well get the most use out of it... right?? ha ha ha!! Well - Best to be prepared, I say. In all my digging around, there seems to be a thing about these 220 words that have to be learned by sight - they cannot be sounded out. (who knew??) So here is a nice site that has them printed out in two different sizes (I like the large size!) Here is the link to the free ones...

http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/Directions/flashcards.html

Flash Card Mania - the Technique

I download the pdf files, print out 2 copies, cut out each flash card (4 print out on one page), and then glue it dead-center onto a slightly larger pretty paper – I was SHOCKED to find holographic foil paper at our local stationary shop – imagine! 25 sheets for about $5 !! How amazing is that?? I trim down the top and side by about 1cm, and then cut the pages in quarters. Anyway – then I laminate 2 cards inside a A5 pouch, and cut them apart, trim the sharp corners, and Wah-lah!!! A finished flashcard that looks absolutely professional and... how handy!!! ;-D

Flash Card Mania – Shapes

I did these with my publishing software. I like them, and everything, but there is also a nice set available from Jan Brett! The link to the ones I found online is here…

http://www.janbrett.com/pdf/jan_brett_geometric_shapes.pdf

Flash Card Mania - Colors

Here is the link to the flash cards for learning the colors! Also quite pretty…

http://www.janbrett.com/pdf/colors_flash_cards.pdf

Flash Card Mania - Matching Animals Game

Now HERE is a really sweet version of the game – Concentration! It is SUPER CUTE and well drawn pictures of different animals – two of each – for our little ones to learn matching! Just adorable. There are 12 different animals to match up. Here is the direct link…

http://www.janbrett.com/games/matching_animals_game_main.htm

Flash Card Mania - Matching Numbers Game

There is also a GREAT number matching game too - one card has the number - one card has the picture. Then it is a matter of matching up the correct ones! VERY nice looking... I am working on that this week! (Yes - I ran out of laminating pouches and holographic card stock! Not to worry - I replenished my supply first thing this morning!! ;-D) Anyway - this is the link to the number matching printables...

http://www.janbrett.com/games/matching_numbers_game_main_page.htm

Flash Card Mania - Numbers

These are the numbers by Jan Brett. They are super neat too. Same thing – clic on the link below, and open up each page as a pdf file – 4 numbers per page.

http://www.janbrett.com/numbers/numbers_flash_cards_main.htm

Flash Card Mania - Pretty Ones

These are from an absolutely FABULOUS site I found – AMAZING artwork, and super pretty, etc. There is a TONNE of stuff to choose from – everything from gift cards, to flash cards, to preschool lessons, to classroom supplies, etc. Just amazing! If you clic on the title of this post, it will take you to her index page. Scroll down, and do a search for what you are looking for – you will be SHOCKED to see how much is available – and YES – all for free! I printed out 2 sets of alphabet flashcards – one in hand writing, and one in printing – so Meer can (one day) match up the written letters with the printed letters, etc. And the artwork is SO pretty…

This is the main page where you can search for what you are looking for:

http://www.janbrett.com/index.html

This is the link to the Traditional Alphabet Flash Cards:

http://www.janbrett.com/alphabet/flash_card_alphabet_traditional_main_page.htm

This is the link to the Modern Alphabet Flash Cards:

http://www.janbrett.com/alphabet/flash_card_alphabet_modern_main_page.htm

This is the link to the Cursive (handwritting) Alphabet Flash Cards:

http://www.janbrett.com/alphabet/flash_card_alphabet_cursive_main_page.htm

Flash Card Mania - the Beginning

So I went a bit nuts over the weekend with my laminator!! Found a GREAT site for flashcards – well, 2 sites, actually. These are the ones I found first – a full set of the alphabet – I made two sets, so we can play matching later, etc. Here are the links to the flashcards – you can print them out yourself – yes – for free!!! Right clic each of the links below, and choose "open in new window" - it will open up a pdf file with 4 letters on each page - one for each link... Hope you like them too!

http://www.first-school.ws/t/alpha_flash1ad.htm

http://www.first-school.ws/t/alpha_flash1eh.htm

http://www.first-school.ws/t/alpha_flash1il.htm

http://www.first-school.ws/t/alpha_flash1mp.htm

http://www.first-school.ws/t/alpha_flash1qt.htm

http://www.first-school.ws/t/alpha_flash1ux.htm

http://www.first-school.ws/t/alpha_flash1yz.htm

Last Week's Projie

Our dining room chairs had been bothering me for… a good 4 years! I had been waiting for a budget to go and buy some fantastic red brocade, or something equally magnificent to recover them in. They had been a funny shade of green for far too long – which matched the dishes that you can see in the pictures. Anyway – last Monday I walked past the dining room one too many times, and decided that I MUST have SOMETHING in my fabric cupboards that would be better than staring at green for one more day! So off I went to dig through the piles…

Found this dark purple – in the same fabric that the green was – so I knew it would upholster and wear well. NOT that purple is my thing…but I just snapped, and it was the best option I had! Within a few hours the dining room was looking better, and I used the remaining scrap of purple fabric to make a table runner. All in all – I am quite pleased with it! Should have done it years ago!! ;-D